
Class T5 5? 
Book ' Lf7 

(jm^^^°~ 



COPyRIGHT DEPoam 



Tips to Inventors 



By 
JOSEPH H. LYMCn 



CopyriflTht, 1911 by the 

rlamilton Publishingf ana R.eportin|f Co. 



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©CI.A297<)40 






"True inventors are not like the poet-^born 
that way — but are the creatures of necessity 
who recognizing existing circumstances, make 
and so shape such circumstances of life to 
utilize what nature in its mysterious way has 
already provided, to the more materially aid, 
comfort and provide for the necessary progress 
and perpetuity of the world." 



PART I. 
TIPS TO INVENTORS 

"A GOOD PATENT, PROPERLY 
HANDLED, LEADS TO SUCCESS 
AND FORTUNE." 

The products of all the gold, silver and dia- 
mond mines in the world would not equal in 
value the annual income derived by American 
inventors. A careful estimation proves that 
there are at least fifty patents in the United 
States which yield over one million dollars 
annually, some three hundred that yield over 
one-half million, from five to eight hundred 
which yield from two hundred and fifty thou- 
sand to five hundred thousand, and between 
fifteen and twenty thousand that yield over 
one hundred thousand dollars annually. In 
addition there are thousands of patents which 
yield yearly more to their fortunate possessors 
than could otherwise be accumulated in a life- 
time. 

There is much luck in the first place, but 
skill in handling a patent counts for even more 
than luck. Often the inventor fails to realize 
the value of his device, and some inventions 
drag along without reaching a paying stage, 
and then suddenly make fortunes for their 
owners when the patent is almost run out. Pat- 
ents and gold mines resemble each other very 
much in one respect; there are no infallible 
signs by which one may recognize the bonan- 
zas. The mine must be worked before its 
value may be known, and no matter what the 
theories of the inventor may be, the world's 
market is the factor that determines the value 
of every invention. 

It is well known that there is very little 
money in surface washing or placer mining for 



gold, and that all the large profits are made 
out of long and patient development of deep 
mines. The same holds good with inventions. 
There is very little profit in inventions which 
can be realized upon immediately. They are 
mere surface washings. All the big things 
have taken time and patience to bring to per- 
fection, and any inventor who finds himself 
making quick profits may be sure that they 
will be short-lived, although he may have a 
good thing while it lasts. Some very large 
fortunes have been made out of apparently 
trivial inventions, and one of the m^ost remun- 
erative contrivances ever invented, the famous 
toy called the ^'Return Ball," sold for only a 
cent. The glass Thumb Tack, which is yield- 
ing to its originator a small fortune annually, 
is the latest of a long series of inventions 
which have been enormously profitable to 
those who were fortunate in inventing them. 

MONEY MADE IN INVENTIONS. 

It is evident from the fact that upwards of 
sixty thousand applications for patents and de- 
signs are filed each year in the United States 
Patent Office, and from the number granted 
and issued each week, that the majority of 
patents taken out prove lucrative. Probably 
about one-fifth of the inventors obtain their 
patents with a definite view of manufacturing 
their inventions, and the remainder with the 
view of reaping their profits from the sale of 
the rights to manufacture. 

It has been well said that, **Patents and 
Trade go hand in hand," and the Commissioner 
of Patents, in an official report, clearly sets 
forth that from six to seven-eighths of the 
manufacturing capital of the United States is 
either directly or indirectly based upon patents. 
Nearly every leading factory in the world owes 



its commencement and success to the prestige 
and protection afforded by the possession of 
a good and valid patent. In fact, it is almost 
entirely due to inventions of a mechanical and 
scientific nature that civilization has advanced 
to its present stage, and that mankind has been 
raised to the existing degree of refinement. It 
is undoubted that the great advancement of 
the people of America during the past few 
hundred years, which has placed them in the 
lead of all the peoples on earth, is principally 
due to their great inventive activity or what 
is called "Yankee ingenuity." 

A GOOD INVENTION 
A MONOPOLY. 

Anyone having a monopoly of a good ar- 
ticle is assured of a fortune. Monopoly is the 
desideratum of the business man. The monopv 
oly or protection of an industry afforded by 
the patent law is, perhaps, the one monopoly 
that directly benefits the world. If capitalists 
and manufacturers can secure the control of 
a new invention of merit for their sole use, 
which will reduce present cost of manufacture, 
enabling an article to be produced at a lesser 
cost, or that will produce a better article at 
the same cost, or produce an article for which 
there is a demand, or for which a demand can 
be created, they will be only too glad to pay 
the inventors a good price for patents cover- 
ing such inventions. While the inventor with 
a meritorious article has an opportunity, ana 
it may be worth millions, as the Bell Tele- 
phone, the Cotton Gin, the Pneumatic Tire, 
the McKay Sewing Machine and numberless 
other devices representing crystalized thought 
prove, the first lesson for the inventor to learrt, 
is, that a very small percentage of humanity 
recognizes the potential value of such thoughts 
and the men who will support an invention in 



its embryonic stage have to be found, and the 
search involves difficulties. McKay peddled 
his stock among the poor fisher folk of New 
Bedford. Depew refused as a gift stock in Bell 
Telephone. Vanderbilt said he had **no time 
for fools" when Westinghouse, the inventoi 
of the Air Brake, interviewed him. Eli Whit- 
ney, whose Cotton Gin raised the Southern 
States to wealth, had to perfect his model in 
a garret with borrowed tools. 

Many a man with a meritorious invention 
dies before he realizes on it, and carries his 
revolutionary ideas to the grave with him — 
the fault, however, in many cases is largely 
his own. There is lacking the element of busi- 
ness, of salesmanship, of method by which 
persons or capital could be shown. 

The teachings of economics show that all 
earnings, in all classes of enterprise, tend to 
a common level, and to avoid this tendency 
capital is always seeking opportunities or in- 
ventions that promise escape from it. But, 
do not forget the fact, that while capital is 
iieeking such opportunities, capital must al- 
'w'ays be shown. The inventor, therefore, who 
has an invention that will lessen cost of pro- 
duction, or produce a superior article at a less 
cost, or produce an article for which there i{s» 
a public demand, or for which a demand can 
be created, has great economic laws working 
in his favor, as certain and as powerful as the 
laws of gravitation, and if he can show capital, 
the necessary money will be forthcoming, just 
the moment that the moneyed men are 
brought to a realization of the fact. 

ALL PATENTS 

NOT REMUNERATIVE. 

All patents are not remunerative, neither 
are all gold mines productive of fortunes. Ow- 
ing to incompetency or bad management on 

7 



the part of the inventor or his agents, many 
meritorious inventions, no doubt, have never 
been sufficiently exploited to effect their sale 
or test their merits. Many other patents do not 
prove remunerative for the simple reason that 
they do not supply a real want, and many 
others are for such slight improvements upon 
existing inventions, that claims allowed are 
so narrow that the patent virtually is not worth 
th^ paper it is written on. While a great num- 
ber of inventions do not pay, and in some cases 
bring their owners disaster, this also holds 
true of any other business or investment. 

Small inventions, as a general thing, make 
more money than the larger ones, for the rea- 
son that they can be easily manufactured with 
but a little outlay of capital, they do not re- 
quire as much ability in handling, and usually 
fill a general need, and the patent is more 
readily disposed of. With the larger inven- 
tions it requires more ability in handling, and 
the invention must be unusually promising to 
justify the expenditure of thousands of dollars 
for its manufacture, etc. However, when 
large and complicated inventions do pay, they 
usually pay well. Inventors who expect to 
realize any considerable amount from their 
inventions must not stand idly by and expecr 
some one else to make money out of their in- 
ventions for them. The remuneration received 
from a patent depends in a great measure on 
the business ability of the inventor. One per- 
son may make a fortune out of an unpromising 
improvement, while another, through bad or 
careless management, will realize little or 
nothing from a brilliant invention. Joe Mit- 
chell Chappie, in the **Retailer & Advertiser," 
says: **Not long since I made a tour of the 
Patent Office in Washington, and saw thou- 
sands of those dust covered models that have 
been laid aside and deserted. I was told on 



good authority that three-fourths of the models 
in the Patent Office are successful proposi- 
tions, but lack the proper exploitation." 

VALUE OF AN INVENTION. 

The value of an invention can never be 
foretold. There is no standard for estimating 
the commercial value. No tw^o are alike, and 
they cannot always be handled in a like man- 
ner, for every invention is necessarily an ex- 
periment and an unknown quantity in the com- 
mercial ad industrial field. It is a common er- 
ror on the part of inventors to set too high a 
value upon their patent rights, and while in- 
ventors are aware of the fact that many per- 
sons have received $50,000 or more for their 
ideas, the majority of inventions are not sold 
for such large sums. An inventor cannot al- 
ways expect to obtain the full face value of 
his invention when the risks of the purchaser 
are considered. Unless the purchaser is in a 
favorable position to develop the idea, he may 
possibly lose the entire amount invested and 
more. When a person buys a patent he can 
usually only derive a profit therefrom, by im- 
mediately proceeding with its manufacture 
and accomplishing a considerable sale of the 
product. This, of course, involves an outlay 
of capital for plant, material and labor, and 
a large expense for advertising. It can readily 
be seen that should the investor's judgment be 
at fault in buying, or if business conditions are 
unfavorable, or his management inefficient, he 
may suffer a loss considerably greater than the 
price of the patent. 

While many notable inventors have derived 
their first, if not their principal, returns from 
their patents by the sale of their rights, yet 
others have done equally well by starting the 
manufacture of their inventions themselves. 
A great many began in a very small way, and 



perhaps at first did not make more than a bare 
living, but gradually were able to enlarge their 
output, or, having practical ideas, by appealing 
to the public, were able to interest large enough 
capital to put their enterprise upon a substan- 
tial footing. The latter method is the most 
certain way to succeed in a large number of 
cases. 

In case the inventor decides to sell out- 
right, the first and hardest question is how to 
arrive at a just valuation of the patent. This 
question should be looked into thoroughly be- 
fore undertaking negotiations, as it is a very 
important one. It is just as important not 
to under-value as it is to over-value the pat- 
ent, and the inventor should not accept the 
first offer for fear he will not receive another. 
The price should not be set so high that it 
will preclude all chance of a sale. Business 
men will not waste time bickering about an 
unreasonable price, and would rather lose the 
patent than do so. Therefore, be reasonable 
in the demand and consider that the purchaser 
must have a fair share of the profits. The in- 
ventor cannot expect, neither will he realize 
all that there is in the patent himself, and 
before the sale is consummated the inventor 
will find that the men willing to establish a 
business on the basis of his untried patent will 
require the greater bulk of the profits to be 
derived from it. 

No two inventions are alike, and each must 
be studied and valued strictly on its merits. 
If an invention can be manufactured in a small 
way, the most practical method is to have a 
small number of the articles manufactured and 
try introducing them in a certain city, county 
or town. By this method it can be demon- 
strated conclusively whether or not the in- 
vention will meet with success, and the in- 
ventor will be prepared with these figures to 

10 



prove to the parties interested just what the 
patent is really worth. This way gives the in- 
ventor a just valuation of his patent, and 
also puts the invention in a more favorable 
position to be sold, for the reason that the 
commercial value of the invention has been 
established and the invention is no longer 
in the experimental stage. In order to carry 
out this demonstration, the inventor must 
have and advance the necessary amount to 
carry it forward. If his judgment is correct 
and the experiment is at all successful, the 
profits derived from the articles sold will 
usually more than offset the expenditure in- 
curred, and in addition he will be in a position 
to prove what the patent is worth. 

If the inventor does not possess the neces- 
sary capital to carry out an experiment of this 
kind, the next step is to obtain estimates from 
reliable manufacturers and estimate the low- 
est price in quantities for which the article can 
be manufactured, the highest price for which 
it can be sold at retail. Then by allowing a 
liberal profit for the purchaser, studying the 
market, making allowance for competition, 
cost of selling and the interest on the invest- 
ment, the inventor will be able to accurately 
estimate the price he should receive for his 
patent. In estimating the probable number 
of sales, the inventor should not figure on 
reaching more than one-fourth of the popula- 
tion of the country, even with an article of 
the most general adaptability, including both 
sexes, though, of course, the invention may be 
an article of regular consumption and will 
bring repeat orders during the course of the 
year. Again it might be well to repeat, do 
not fall into the error, which has doomed many 
ambitious inventors to disappointment, of bas- 
ing their hopes on fabulous prices and imme- 
diate wealth. Do not deceive yourself, but 

11 



look at your invention through the glasses of 
the purchaser, and stop and consider the num- 
ber of patents issued weekly, and remember 
that your invention is not the only good propo- 
sition in the patent field. 

PATENT SELLING AGENCIES. 

To the inventor just receiving his first pat- 
ent and who has not been *'under fire,'' the 
selling of his patent will appear as a very easy 
task, judging from the attractive and tempt- 
ingly prepared propositions that he will re- 
ceive from firms, persons and companies, not 
only in this country, but also in foreign coun- 
tries. Some will pretend to want to purchase 
the patent outright, others to place same on 
royalty and others to sell on commission. All 
of these propositions, although apparently dif- 
ferent, will have one point in common. Pay- 
ment of an ADVANCE FEE will be required 
on one pretext or another, either to advertise 
the patent, have circulars printed, secure 
copies of patent for distribution, and many 
other devices originating in the faker's mind 
to secure the inventor's cash. The writer's 
experience has been, that in almost all cases 
the parties are\unreliable./ In one case after 
paying a fee of forty dollars, the only return 
was several plausible letters pretending that 
the sale was being pushed rapidly and the out- 
look at that writing was that the sale would 
be consummated in the course of a few weeks. 
Such a word picture was painted one could 
almost see the patent agent receiving the cash 
from the purchaser, but needless to say the 
sale was never realized. In another case a 
fee of twenty-five dollars was asked, but in 
calling at the office the interview did not turn 
out nearly as promising, as the carefully 
worded (written to order) letters and circu- 
lars, and the fee of twenty-five dollars was 

12 



not invested. If it had the result would have 
been siinilar to the preceding case, as a short 
time afterwards the office was closed by the 
Post Office authorities. In the first case in 
which the writer lost the fee of forty dollars, 
all due precaution was taken, and an investi- 
gation was made by one of the large com- 
mercial agencies, but we were all duped and 
the agent was in the forty dollars. Ignore 
all such offers entirely, as parties of this kind 
have no facilities for selling patents, and their 
only object is to collect fees for which they 
can give no return. All their time is taken up 
in mailing their circulars to inventors imme- 
diately upon the weekly publication of the Of- 
ficial Gazette, and sending follow-up letters 
in order to work the inventor up to the re- 
mitting point, which usually ends the matter 
so far as they are concerned. 

There may be exceptions, but the search to 
find one involves as much trouble as finding 
the needle in the proverbial haystack. The 
report of the Assistant Commissioner of Pat- 
ents in the Wedderburn case, 81 O. G., 159, 
clearly pointed out that the methods of these 
concerns were such as to sell the inventors 
rather than their patents. An easy way to 
determine the reliability, is to offer a com- 
mission to be collected when the patent is 
sold. The result will be that even if as high a 
commission as eighty per cent, be offered, they 
will not undertake the sale until the advance 
fee is forwarded, and this, in view of the fact 
that their letters will tell you of what a fine 
invention it is and how quickly a sale can 
be accomplished. Their contracts may be 
elaborate and alluring, but the sum total in- 
volved is the "ADVANCE FEE." 

INVENTOR THE BEST 
SELLING AGENT. 

13 



The inventor himself should be the best 
selling agent, knowing as he does the construc- 
tion and operation of his invention in every 
detail, its merits and superior points, and fur- 
thermore, intending purchasers invariably 
prefer to deal with the inventor himself, for 
the reason, that the moment the inventor turns 
over his patent to others to negotiate, it im- 
mediately loses prestige in the eyes of a ma- 
jority of business men. The personal push of 
the inventor is invariably essential to the suc- 
cessful sale of the patent. 

In some instances the inventor is not able 
to handle the sale of his invention, and the 
services of a salesman must be engaged. If 
possible one should be selected from his own 
acquaintances in whom he has confidence and 
who has had experience in the particular line 
to which the invention relates. It is not ab- 
solutely necessary that he should have had 
experience in selling patents, but he should un- 
derstand salesmanship, know how to approach 
business men and be a good talker. He should 
not be empowered with the authority to sign 
or collect and should submit all offers re- 
ceived to the inventor. A reasonable price 
should be decided upon, a liberal commission 
allowed the agent, and a bonus for all over 
the agreed price which he is able to obtain. 
The offer of a bonus gives the agent an in- 
centive to work for the highest price obtain- 
able. 

METHODS OF 
SELLING. 

There are many methods to which the in- 
ventor can resort in disposing of his patent, 
and the same can be disposed of as success- 
fully from the smallest hamlet in the country 
as well as from any of the large cities. The 
main thing in selling a patent is not to become 

14 



discouraged, as selling a patent will not be 
found a pathway strewn with roses, and the 
inventor will chase up many a **blind alley" 
before his mission is finished. A **blind alley" 
is a lane that has no outlet, and the man who 
goes up it eventually comes against a stone 
wall. 

In the first place strive to create a favor- 
able impression, and the best way is to have 
a perfect working model. It should be per- 
fect in every detail, which will obviate the 
necessity of making explanations, that this 
should do so and so, and when this part is 
added it will perform such and such a func- 
tion. Human nature abounds in curiosity, and 
an old adage says, "Man never loses his child- 
love for toys," and a perfect miniature ma- 
chine of any description will attract more at- 
tention than one of full size, and with a per- 
fect model the inventor has the full and im- 
mediate attention of his prospective purchaser 
at once. A model will be found almost indis- 
pensable in visiting manufacturers. In case 
the invention is large and complicated, the 
cost of the model may exclude many inventors 
from their use. In this case working draw- 
ings may be used, as they are not as expen- 
sive as models, although they have the dis- 
advantage of being of little value to those 
who do not understand them. Working 
drawings are different from those used in the 
patent application, in that they are more de- 
tailed, and give the size of each piece and the 
material of which it is constructed. Work- 
ing drawings are preferred to models by man- 
ufacturers in quoting prices on manufactur- 
ing the articles in quantities, and also have 
the advantage of being easily sent through the 
mails. 

In order to ascertain its validity, novelty 
and what protection is really afforded by the 

15 



patent, manufacturers and others usually ask 
for printed copies of the patent if interested, 
and it is well for the inventor to have several 
printed copies of his patent on hand, so that 
he can fill any requests he may have of this 
kind. By addressing the Hon. Commissioner 
of Patents, Washington, D. C, and remitting 
at the rate of five cents per copy, together 
with the patent number, date of issue and in- 
ventor's name, any desired number of copies 
can be secured. The Patent Office does not 
accept postage stamps, and money orders, 
postal orders and checks should be made pay- 
able to the Commissioner of Patents. 

PERSONAL PRESENTATION. 

While we are to-day witnessing an era in 
which nearly everything is promoted by ad- 
vertising, it is generally the case in the selling 
of patents, that personal presentation thereof, 
is the most effective way in which to accom- 
plish results. This may be done by visits or 
by correspondence. The first step previous 
to the selling procedure, however, is to get 
as much free advertising and publicity as pos- 
sible, which can be done by interesting news- 
paper men in the invention. Newspapers 
desire items of interest of every description, 
and readers are usually interested in brief ac- 
counts of any new invention possessing nov- 
elty or merit, and once the inventor gets his 
invention into one paper it is usually copied 
by other papers. This newspaper notice may 
attract the attention of capitalists, manufac- 
turers and others, and at once put the inven- 
tion in a favorable position before the public. 
Trade Journals will usually receive technical 
descriptions of meritorious inventions con- 
cerning industrial improvements, and articles 
in mediums of this nature are of the utmost 
value and importance in creating favorable 

16 



public opinion, and will be quite a factor in 
advancing the inventor's interests. 

After obtaining as much publicity as pos- 
sible, the inventor should arrange to call on 
all parties in his immediate neighborhood who 
have made inquiries, and take up the sale 
through correspondence with those at distant 
points. Make a personal call in all cases 
where it is absolutely possible to do so, as it 
will have a decided tendency to bring about 
a more satisfactory understanding. Take the 
model if you have one, and make an out and 
out business-like presentation, give each and 
every reason why it is to the interest of the 
parties to invest in the patent, and if dealing 
with a manufacturer, point out the possible 
loss that his business may suffer by allowing 
one of his competitors to obtain control of 
the invention. 

In the event that no inquiries are received 
from the publicity already given, the inventor 
should call on his personal acquaintances and 
endeavor to interest them, or secure from 
them letters of introduction to any friends 
they may have whom they think might be in- 
terested. Oftentimes surprisingly good re- 
sults are obtained in this manner from sources 
which looked the least promising. While 
among your acquaintances a purchaser may 
not be found, the probabilities are, that if the 
invention is a meritorious one, that one will 
be found who will advance the necessary capi- 
tal for the introduction and sale of the inven- 
tion, for a certain percentage of the proceeds 
derived. In any case, whatever is agreed upon 
should be put in the form of a contract or 
agreement and written in such terms as will 
leave no doubt as to the understanding be- 
tween the parties. The following form se- 
cures both parties: 

WHEREAS I, John Smith, of Hopewell, 

17 



County of Bergen and State of New Jersey, 
have invented certain new and useful im- 
provements in Flying Machines, for which I 
have obtained Letters Patent of the United 
States, bearing date 19 , 

and number , and 

whereas William Bennett, of New Brighton, 
County of Essex, State of New ,York, is de- 
sirous of obtaining an interest in the net prof- 
its arising from the said patent, or working of 
the said invention covered by the said Letters 
Patent. 

Now, therefore, this indenture witnesseth, 
that for and in consideration of one dollar by 
each of the parties hereto paid to the other, 
the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, 
it is stipulated and agreed as follows: 

First, That the said William Bennett shall 
pay all moneys necessary to the construction 
of a suitable model to represent the said in- 
vention, not less than $ „ , 

for advertising and bringing said invention 
before interested parties; that he shall make 
diligent effort to promote the said invention, 
its manufacture and sale. 

Second, That the said John Smith, sole own- 
er of said invention, in consideration of the 
payment of the moneys above mentioned, 
agrees to pay the said William Bennett twenty 
per cent, (or whatever amount is agreed upon) 
of all the net receipts in any manner arising 
from the sale or working of the said Letters 
Patent, during the term for which said patent 
is granted. 

Witness our hands and seals this 

day of , A. D. 19 

John Smith. 

In the presence of : William Bennett 
John Doe. 
Richard Brown. 

18 



Oftentimes, in cases where the inventor re- 
ceives capital as above outlined, the inexperi- 
enced is apt to make the fatal mistake of as- 
signing an undivided interest in his invention.- 
On the face of it such an assignment may ap- 
pear well enough, and the inventor is under 
the impression that under an assignment of 
this nature, the proceeds from the patent will 
be divided pro rata, according to the inter- 
ests. In such assignments, this, however, is 
not the case, and does not of itself, without 
an express agreement to that effect, make the 
parties partners. Each has the right to sep- 
arately make, use or sell the invention so as- 
signed without liability to account to the co- 
owners for any part of the profits derived 
from the invention through their own efforts. 
The assignee in an assignment of an undi- 
vided interest is afforded an opportunity of 
using, manufacturing and selling to others to 
be used the article covered by the patent; 
also, to grant territorial rights, such rights 
being unlimited by the terms of the assign- 
ment, and no matter how small the interest 
is that is thus conveyed, the assignee can 
proceed in much the same way as if he were 
the sole owner of the patent. 

If the inventor intends to have the relation 
of co-partnership exist between himself and 
the assignee of an undivided interest, and 
that the profits arising from the invention 
shall be equitable, for their joint benefit, there 
must be an express agreement between them 
to that effect, otherwise the advantage will be 
with the assignee if he is inclined to be dis- 
honorable, and as all the dishonest people are 
not dead yet, and probably never will be, in 
all matters pertaining to agreements relative 
to your patent, the inventor will be wise to 
follow the old maxim, "Be sure you are right, 
then go ahead." It is just as easy to read an 

19 



agreement over and then sign, as it is to sign 
first and read afterwards ; and by reading over 
first, and to be on the safe side, have your 
own lawyer also read it over, lots of trouble 
will be avoided. 

ADVERTISING. 

If an inventor has a meritorious patent 
that manufacturers or others want, as soon 
as he can attract their attention to its merits 
and superior qualities, negotiations will soon 
follow. An advertisement in the proper me- 
dium is absolutely the best way to get in 
touch with prospective purchasers. To do this 
the inventor has the choice of two classes of 
mediums, the daily newspapers and the trade 
journals. The daily papers will in all prob- 
ability bring a greater number of replies than 
the trade journals, but the class of inquiries 
from the trade journals will be much better, 
and the people who answer are more apt to 
be interested and talk business. Both are 
good mediums. The advertisement should be 
truthful, and nothing claimed that does not 
sound reasonable, even though facts are being 
stated. Do not use too many unnecessary 
words and sentences. It is not what is said, 
but the way it is said, that counts. "A word 
is short and quick, but works a long result; 
therefore, look well to words.'' — Shakespeare. 
Although an inventor can invent, it does not 
signify that he is able to write an advertise- 
ment. Of course, any one can write an ad- 
vertisement, but one that will have the pulling 
power, and bring results is what is needed, 
and the best way is to have the advertisement 
written by some person or firm who make a 
business of this class of work, and the money 
will be found to be well invested. 

The inventor should avoid publications that 
are published at uncertain periods, and usual- 

20 



ly for the express purpose of circulating 
among inventors for various purposes. Such 
papers do not reach the class of people that 
invest in patents. The object in many cases 
is for the express purpose of inducing the in- 
ventor to advertise, but this class of medium 
will never bring results, and should be put 
in a class with the patent-selling agencies, and 
avoided absolutely. 

CORRESPONDENCE. 

Correspondence often proves a good means 
of bringing patents before interested parties. 
What was said in connection with the writ- 
ing of the advertisement holds good with the 
writing of the letter. A letter should be a 
representative — properly worded it becomes a 
skillful, diplomatic salesman, and you can 
send out a hundred or a thousand overnight. 
The inventor has an opportunity, but lacks 
capital for it. These hundred or thousand 
letters could go to a hundred or a thousand 
men who have capital for opportunities, but 
lack the opportunity. A letter will link you 
together. Thus it can be seen how important 
it is to have the letter properly written, there- 
fore, while the inventor knows just what the 
invention is, what it will do, the points and 
advantages it has, if he cannot put it in words 
that will gain attention, arouse interest, cre- 
ate a desire, and stimulate to action, the effort 
will be lost and his letter will find a resting 
place in the waste paper basket. Better pay 
a few extra dollars and pay a man skilled in 
this line of work who can transpose your 
ideas into the skillfully worded diplomatic 
letter, that when read will convince. By se- 
curing copies of a number of trade journals, 
from the advertisements therein, a list of 
manufacturers can be secured who no doubt 
would be interested in the invention, and 

21 



might be induced to purchase the patent, or 
manufacture the article on a royalty basis. In 
this manner the inventor will get a good up- 
to-date list, or lists of any kind desired may 
be obtained from reliable agencies for a small 
amount. 

CIRCULARS. 

Circulars will frequently be found of great 
value to the inventor in connection with ad- 
vertising and correspondence and will save 
a great deal of writing and explaining, as well 
as appearing more business-like and attrac- 
tive. If possible, the circular should contain 
an illustration. The cut should be neat and 
clear and set forth the invention in its best 
light. The illustration will greatly increase 
the appearance of the circular, and make it 
more readily understood and interesting, espe- 
cially so if the circular is well written and 
convincing, nicely arranged, and neatly print- 
ed upon good paper. Badly arranged circu- 
lars, poorly printed on cheap paper do not 
have the desired effect, and had better not be 
sent out at all. 

In taking up the sale by correspondence, 
it is well not to mention the price until the 
parties become interested. The first step is 
to endeavor to induce interested parties to 
make an offer. If the invention is a meritori- 
ous one, it is more than likely that more than 
one of the parties to whom the inventor has 
written will become interested and will make 
an offer of some kind, and when such a state 
exists, the inventor can be more exacting in 
his demands, since competition has been 
created. 

SELLING OUTRIGHT. 

The day for obtaining enormous sums from 
22 



the sale of a patent outright (except in a very 
few exceptional cases) is past, although many 
inventors prefer to do this, the same as they 
would a piece of real estate. Although this 
is the quickest way to turn the invention into 
money, usually a much smaller sum is realized 
than could be obtained if disposed of by other 
methods. In selling outright the inventor 
generally has to share in the risks as well as 
the profits, and even then he cannot expect 
to get as much by selling outright as he could 
by sharing in the success of the invention 
commiercially. Oftentimes the inventor needs 
money and is content to take the highest cash 
price his invention will bring him outright. 
One advantage is, he is assured of a lump 
sum, free from any chance of the article not 
selling well when placed on the market, and 
if on the other hand he has other inventions 
in mind it gives him the necessary capital 
to push them to completion. 

When endeavoring to sell his invention out- 
right, the inventor should endeavor to keep 
those with whom he is trying to deal from 
getting an insight into his financial condition, 
as capitalists and others will very often — ^in 
fact, will always take advantage of an inventor 
when it is known that he is in straitened cir- 
cumstances. It is therefore advisable not to 
be too impatient, and strive to impress those 
with whom he is dealing that the world is 
using him well, and that he cannot be worked 
on the score of financial condition. 

DIFFERENT CLASSES 
OF RIGHTS. 

In every case where the invention covers 
articles not in the same line of manufacture, 
the inventor should not fail to divide the rights 
into different classes, selling to each party 
only such rights as they may be interested 

23 



in. The receipts from the invention can often 
be doubled and trebled in this manner. An 
example of this plan may be cited in the case 
of Goodyear, the inventor of the process of 
vulcanizing rubber. Goodyear divided his 
patent up into many different rights, licensing 
one company for manufacturing rubber 
combs, another for rubber hose pipes, another 
for clothing, another for shoes, and so on 
throughout the whole line, for which each 
company paid a tariff or license. Lyall, in- 
ventor of the continuous loom, proceeded 
along the same lines. 

STATE AND 

COUNTY RIGHTS. 

Selling State and County rights is another 
method. This consists of a license in consid- 
eration of a certain sum of money paid to the 
inventor, allowing another person or persons 
the exclusive right to make and sell the in- 
vention, and to authorize others to make and 
sell the invention, during the life of the patent, 
within a specified territory. This plan has in 
numerous cases proven highly profitable. 

In placing a patent on royalty, the inventor 
is taking a chance, but one might say that 
almost everything in life is a chance, and noth- 
ing is sure except death and taxes. The li- 
cense and royalty plan, which involves a con- 
tract between the inventor and the manufac- 
turer, by which the latter in consideration of 
a license to manufacture the article covered 
by the patent, agrees to pay the inventor a 
certain specified sum as royalty for each ar- 
ticle sold or manufactured bearing the pat- 
ented improvement, is perhaps the most popu- 
lar method with the majority of inventors for 
realizing from their inventions. This plan is 
justly popular, when it is taken into considera- 
tion that many valuable patents have been 

24 



I 



sold by their owners for sums ranging from 
$1,000 to $10,000, which yielded the purchasers 
after the articles were placed on the market, 
sums ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 annual- 
ly. An instance of this kind was the little 
novelty "Pigs in Clover," which was sold by 
the inventor, it is claimed, for $600, and from 
which the purchaser realized upwards of 
$50,000. 

PLACING A PATENT 
ON ROYALTY. 

In placing the patent on royalty, it all de- 
pends upon how much confidence the inventor 
has in the article selling well. In making 
royalty contracts it is necessary to exercise 
the utmost caution, and unless it cannot be 
otherwise arranged, the inventor should not 
transfer his rights merely in consideration of 
receiving a certain sum on, each article sold, 
as with an agreement of this kind, there would 
be no certainty of the sales being pushed. The 
agreement should specifically stipulate that 
the royalties shall amount to a certain sum, 
within a certain period of time, as semi-an- 
nually or annually, and that such sum is to 
be paid at such stipulated time by the manu- 
facturer irrespective of sales. By an agree- 
ment of this kind the inventor is sure of a 
certain income; furthermore, it insures that 
the manufacturer will do the article justice 
by pushing the sales to the utmost, since if 
he neglects to do so, he is out of pocket. Agree- 
ments of this kind are hard to consummate, 
as the majority of manufacturers are loath to 
agree to this condition, unless the amount 
guaranteed is exceedingly reasonable. They 
usually agree to do their best, and if the sales 
do not reach a certain sum each year, the in- 
ventor shall have the option of cancelling the 
agreement, and receiving back the patent free 

25 



and clear. 

There are many pitfalls for the inventor in 
making royalty contracts, and he should above 
all things investigate the standing, rating and 
capabilities of the manufacturer, and see that 
they have the right motive in view. Large 
royalties are often offered by manufacturers 
in order to gain possession of the patent and 
consign it to a pigeon-hole so that the article 
will be kept out of the market, and not inter- 
fere with some similar article already on the 
market and inferior to the one, such as the 
patent anticipates. Again, others make roy- 
alty contracts with inventors with no other 
object in view than to charge him an extor- 
tionate price for making the special tools, 
dies, patterns, etc. 

LICENSES EXCLUSIVE 
AND NON-EXCLUSIVE. 

Royalty licenses can be exclusive and non- 
exclusive. The exclusive contract gives the 
manufacturer the exclusive right to manufac- 
ture the article, excluding all others. Non- 
exclusive is simply a shop right calling for a 
stipulated price or percentage upon each ar- 
ticle manufactured or sold, which the manu- 
facturer agrees to pay to the inventor. The 
license can also be exclusive in a certain sec- 
tion, county, state or states, as may be agreed 
upon. All contracts should in all cases be 
drawn up by a competent attorney, and it is 
well for the inventor to have his own attor- 
ney do this work, in which case he will be 
assured of his interests being properly looked 
after. 

In determining what royalty should be re- 
ceived, the inventor should carefully estimate, 
in connection with the possible number of 
sales, what profit the manufacturer can make 
on each, and should require about twenty-five 

26 



per cent, of the profits as royalty, or, after 
ascertaining the retail price of the article, fig- 
ure the royalty at from one-twentieth to one- 
tenth of the retail price. Non-exclusive rights 
should be figured at about one-half of that for 
exclusive rights. 

THE BEST PLAN. 

With a really good invention the best plan 
is for the inventor to retain the patent and 
work it himself, if he has the capital, plus 
business ability. In case he cannot conduct 
the manufacturing alone, the probabilities are 
that he can secure a partner with sufficient 
funds and ability to make a successful com- 
bination. If the inventor does not desire to 
retain the whole patent for his own use, a 
very desirable method is to commence the 
manufacture of the invention, and after the 
business is under way and showing progress 
and profit, then sell out the business with 
license under the patent. If the first experi- 
ment is successful, it is a very easy matter to 
carry out the same method in every available 
section the inventor chooses, and the business 
can easily be disposed of if it can be shown 
to be on a profitable basis. 

In this manner with a valuable patent on 
an article of general adaptability and useful- 
ness, the inventor can make a fortune from 
the invention, and realize as much almost from 
each business established as he could have 
obtained for the entire patent if sold outright. 

ORGANIZING STOCK 
COMPANIES. 

For large and promising inventions, a meth- 
od that has proven quite successful is to or- 
ganize stock companies on the basis of pat- 
ents. This is a method that any inventor, 
providing his invention is of sufficient merit 

27 



and importance to form a basis for a success- 
ful stock company, should be able to carry 
out successfully. The company can be incor- 
porated for any amount, large or small. Capi- 
tal is more easily secured by the formation of 
a stock company than by any other means, as 
people can subscribe for large or small 
amounts, and a business that could hardly 
hope to be sold to an individual for more than 
$50,000, may be sold to the public for $200,000 
with perfect conservatism, for the investor is 
satisfied providing an earning of five per cent, 
or better is demonstrated. If the company 
is provided with ample capital, the business 
management entrusted to a competent man, 
and if the invention has real merit there is 
little chance of failure. 

There are many states that are very favor- 
able to corporations, in which the fees are 
very small, the meetings of directors can be 
held at any place convenient and need not be 
held in the state in which the charter is grant- 
ed, the incorporators need not be residents of 
the state, and no annual statements are re- 
quired. Care should be taken, however, in 
selecting a state in which to incorporate under 
that will bring prestige to the company, as 
corporations under the laws of certain states 
are looked upon with suspicion. Secure the 
services of a reliable attorney, familiar with 
corporation laws, who will advise how to pro- 
ceed properly in organizing the company, se- 
curing the stock certificates and seal, sub- 
scription blanks, etc., all of which can be se- 
cured for a small amount. Before applying 
for the charter for a stock company, secure 
three or more friends who will co-operate by 
subscribing for one or more shares and act as 
incorporators of the company. A prospectus 
will be necessary in which to set forth the 
invention and the plans of the company for 

28 



introducing it, also stationery with the name 
of the company and the business displayed 
thereon. 

The inventor should receive fifty-one per 
cent, of the capital stock in consideration of 
his transferring his rights and franchises to 
the corporation, the remainder is to be treas- 
ury stock to be sold for the benefit of the 
company to create a working capital. The 
inventor, if he desires, may sell a portion of 
his stock, but in order to show his own confi- 
dence in the business, he should retain a good 
portion of it. 

When sufficient stock has been subscribed 
for, a meeting of the stockholders should be 
called to elect directors, and transact such 
other business as may be deemed necessary 
in regard to locating and building the plant 
and getting the company in shape. 

In connection with stock companies and the 
necessary prospectus, and literature, it is well 
to remember that a good prospectus writer is 
not born. He is made, and he is made by 
practice, by hard, unremitting labor. A large 
number of prospectuses fail in their mission, 
and if the subscription to the stock of the 
company is dependent in a great measure 
upon the prospectus, which it will be, unless 
it is to be a close corporation, it is a matter 
of vital importance that it should be well 
written. The reason why so many pros- 
pectuses fail to accomplish their mission, is 
probably due to the fact that it seems an in- 
viting field for amateur work. Any one can 
write a prospectus, it is true; but to write 
one that will bring results, however, 13 a 
somewhat different matter. The amateur 
means well, but he fails principally because: 
he lacks ideas, or, he fails to express them 
clearly; or, he has them in his inner con- 
sciousness, but fails to bring them out; or, 

29 



he lacks the art of expressing them with vigor 
and force. Andrew Carnegie once said: "Place 
on my tombstone this epitaph: Here lies a 
man who knew how to keep around him men 
who were cleverer than himself." What Car- 
negie meant was, that he owes his success to 
employing men cleverer than himself in some 
things. In other words, Carnegie believed 
that when in need of legal advice to go to a 
lawyer; when in need of medical advice, to 
go to a doctor; and for the construction of 
a great work, to go to engineers. A vital 
point, therefore, after forming a stock com- 
pany, is, to have the financial literature pre- 
pared by men trained in finance, trained in 
financial presentation, trained to present in 
such a way that the idiosyncrasies and pecu- 
liarities of investors and speculators will be 
carefully catered to. Defective prospectuses, 
advertisements or letters will lose money ev- 
ery day they are used. Success comes from 
knowing whether you yourself can do a par- 
ticular thing better than somebody else, or 
vice versa. If you are satisfied you cannot, 
then hire somebody else to do it, and by so 
doing you will have a successful corporation. 

RULES OF PRACTICE IN THE 

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 

A copy of the **Rules of Practice in the 
United States Patent Office,'' together with 
a copy of the *Tatent Laws," will be mailed 
free to any person addressing the Hon. Com- 
missioner of Patents, Washington, D. C, re- 
questing the same. These books are pub- 
lished by the Patent Office for gratuitous dis- 
tribution. The following from the "Rules of 
Practice" may be of interest to the inventor. 

ASSIGNMENTS. 

Every patent or any interest therein shall 

30 



be assignable in law by an^ instrument in 
writing; and the patentee or his assigns or 
legal representatives may, in like manner, 
grant and convey an exclusive right under the 
patent to the whole or any specified part of 
the United States. Interests in patents may 
be vested in assignees, in grantees of exclu- 
sive sectional rights, in mortgages, and in 
licenses. 

CONDITIONAL 
ASSIGNMENTS. 

Assignments which are made conditional 
on the performance of certain stipulations, as 
the payment of money, if recorded in the of- 
fice, are regarded as absolute assignments un- 
til cancelled with the written consent of both 
parties, or by the decree of a competent court. 
The office has no means for determining 
whether such conditions have been filled. 
(Rev. Stat., Sec. 4898.) 

MORTGAGES. 

A Mortgage must be written or printed and 
duly signed. 

LICENSES. 

A License may be oral, written or printed, 
and if written or printed, must be duly signed. 

ASSIGNEES. 

An Assignee is a transferee of the whole 
interest of the original patent or of an undi- 
vided part of such whole interest, extending 
to every portion of the United States. The 
assignment must be written or printed and 
duly signed. 

GRANTEES. 

A Grantee acquires by the grant the exclu- 
sive right under the patent to make and use 

31 



tnd to grant to others the right to make and 
use, the thing patented within and throughout 
some specified part of the United States, ex- 
cluding the patentee therefrom. The grant 
must be written or printed and duly signed. 

RECORDING. 

An assignment, grant or conveyance of a 
patent will be void as against any subsequent 
purchaser or mortgagee for a valuable con- 
sideration without notice unless recorded in 
the Patent Office within three months from 
the date thereof. If any such assignment, 
grant or conveyance of any patent shall be 
acknowledged before any notary public of the 
several states or territories, or the District of 
Columbia, or any Commissioner of the United 
States Circuit Court, or before any secretary 
of legation, or consular office authorized to 
administer oaths or perform notarial acts un- 
der Section 1750 of the Revised Statutes, the 
certificate of such acknowledgment, under the 
hand and official seal of such notary or other 
officer, shall be prima facie evidence of the 
execution of such assignment, grant or con- 
veyance. 

No instrument will be recorded which does 
not, in the judgment of the Commissioner, 
amount to an assignment, grant, mortgage, 
lien, encumbrance or license, or which does 
not affect the title of the patent or invention 
to which it relates. Such instruments should 
identify the patent by date and number; or 
if the invention is unpatented, the name of 
the inventor, the serial number, and date of 
the application should be stated. 



32 



PART 11. 

TRANSFER OF PATENT RIGHTS. 
ASSIGNMENT OF ENTIRE INTEREST 
IN LETTERS PATENT. 

WHEREAS, I, John Smith, of New York, 
County of New York, State of New iYork, did 
obtain Letters Patent of the United States 
for an improvement in Mowing Machines, 

which Letters Patent are numbered , 

and bear date of 19 , 

and whereas I am now sole owner of said 
patent, and of all rights under the same; and 
whereas the New York Mowing Machine 
Company, of New York, County of New York, 
and State of New York, is desirous of acquir- 
ing an interest in the same: 

NOW, THEREFORE, to all whom it may 
concern, be it known, that for and in consid- 
eration of the sum of fifteen thousand dollars 
to me in hand paid, the receipt of which is 
hereby acknowledged, I, the said John Smith, 
have sold, assigned and transferred, and by 
these presents do sell, assign, and transfer 
unto the said New York Mowing Machine 
Company, the whole right, title and interest 
in and to the said improvements in Mowing 
Machines, and in and to the Letters Patent 
therefor aforesaid; the same to be held and 
enjoyed by the said New York Mowing Ma- 
chine Company, for their own use and behoof, 
and for the use and behoof of their legal rep- 
resentatives, to the full end of the term for 
which said Letters Patent are or may be 
granted, as fully and as entirely as the same 
would have been held and enjoyed by me had 
this assignment and sale not been made. 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have 
hereto set my hand and affixed my seal, at 
New York, County and State aforesaid, this 

33 



day of A. D., 

19 

JOHN SMITH. (Seal) 

In presence of 

James Brown, 

William Stevens. 

LICENSE :— EXCLUSIVE 
WITH ROYALTY, 

THIS AGREEMENT, made this 

day of , 19 , between 

John Doe, of New York, State of New ^York, 
party of the first part, and the Amsterdam 
Aeroplane Company, a corporate body under 
the laws of the State of Delaware, located and 
doing business at the city of Wilmington, in 
the State of Delaware, party of the second 
part. 

Witnesseth, that whereas, Letters Patent of 

the United States, No , were on the 

day of , 19 , granted 

to the said party of the first part, for improve- 
ments in Flying Machines, and whereas said 
party of the second part is desirous of manu- 
facturing and selling said patented article: 
Now, therefore, the parties hereto have agreed 
as follows: 

I. The party of the first part gives to the 
party of the second part the exclusive right to 
manufacture and sell the said patented im- 
provements, to the end of the term of said 
patent, subject to the conditions hereinafter 
named. 

II. The party of the second part agrees to 
make full and true returns, on the first days 
of January and July in each year, of all ma- 
chines manufactured and sold by them con- 
taining the said patented improvements in 
the six calendar months last past; and if the 
party of the first part shall not be satisfied 
in any respect with any such return, then shall 

34 



the party of the first part have the right, either 
by himself or by his attorney, to examine 
all books of account of s^id party of the second 
part concerning any items, charges, memo- 
randa, or information relating to the manufac- 
ture or sale of said patented Flying Machines ; 
and upon request made, said party of the 
second part shall produce all such books for 
said examination. 

III. The party of the second part agrees 
to pay the party of the first part three dollars 
as a license fee upon every one of the said 
patented Flying Machines manufactured by 
them, the whole of said license fee for each 
term of six months to be due and payable on 
the days herein provided for semi-annual re- 
turns. 

IV. The party of the second part agrees 
to pay the party of the first part at least three 
thousand dollars, as said license fee upon each 
of the semi-annual terms, even though they 
should not make enough of said patented ma- 
chines to amount to that sum at the regular 
royalty of three dollars each. 

V. The party of the second part shall cast, 
or otherwise permanently place, upon every 
such machine made under this license, the 
word "Patented" and the No. and date of said 
patent. 

VI. The party of the second part shall not, 
during the life of this license, make or sell 
any article which can compete in the market 
with said Flying Machine. 

VII. Upon the failure of the party of the 
second part to keep each and all of the con- 
ditions of this license and agreement, the 
party of the first part may, at his option, ter- 
minate this license, and such termination shall 
not release said party of the second part from 
any liability due at such time to the party of 
the first part. 

35 



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the above- 
named parties have hereto set their hands the 
day and year first above written. 

JOHN SMITH, 
Amsterdam Aeroplane Company, 

By John Enright, President. 

LICENSES :— NON-EXCLUSI VE, 
WITH ROYALTY. 

THIS AGREEMENT, made this 

day of 19 , between John 

Smith, of Newport, County of Bergen, State 
of New Jersey, party of the first part, and the 
United Sales Co., of Red Brook, County of 
Monmouth, and State of New Jersey, party 
of the second part, 

WITNESSETH, that whereas Letters Pat- 
ent of the United States, No , for an im- 
provement in Vacuum Cleaners, were granted 

to the party of the first part , 19 ; 

and whereas the party of the second part is 
desirous of manufacturing the Vacuum 
Cleaners containing the said patented im- 
provements. 

NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto 
have agreed as follows: 

I. The party of the first part hereby 
licenses and empowers the party of the second 
part to manufacture, subject to the conditions 
herein named, at their plant in Red Brook, 
and in no other place or places, to the end of 
the term for which said Letters Patent were 
granted. Vacuum Cleaners containing the pat- 
ented improvements, and to sell the same 
within the United States. 

II. The party of the second part agrees to 
make full and true returns to the party of the 
first part, under oath, upon the first days of 
January and July in each year, of all Vacuum 
Cleaners containing said patented improve- 
ments manufactured by them. 

36 



III. The party of the first part agrees to 
pay the party of the first part five dollars as a 
license fee upon each and every Vacuum 
Cleaner manufactured by the party of the 
second part containing the patented improve- 
ments : 

IV. The party of the second part agrees to 
put forth their best efforts and use due dili- 
gence in the manufacture and sale of the 
Vacuum Cleaners containing the said patented 
improvements, and if the royalties do not 
amount to five hundred dollars semi-annually, 
the party of the first part may terminate this 
license by serving a written notice upon the 
party of the second part. 

V. Upon the failure of the party of the 
second part to make returns or to make pay- 
ment of license fees, as herein provided, for 
thirty days after the days herein named, the 
party of the first part may terminate this 
license by serving a written notice upon the 
party of the second part; but the party of the 
second part shall not thereby be discharged 
from any liability to the party of the first part 
for any license fees due at the time of the ser- 
vice of such notice. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties 
above named have hereto set their hands the 
day and year first above written, at Red 
Brook, County of Monmouth, and State of 
New Jersey. 

JOHN SMITH, 
United Sales Company, 
Per John Doe, President. 

LICENSE :— SHOP-RIGHT. 

IN CONSIDERATION of the sum of one 
hundred dollars to me paid by the United 
States Radiator Company, a corporation of 
New York, located in the city of New York, 
I do hereby license and empower said com- 

37 



pany to manufacture at a single foundry and 
machine-shop in New York, and in no other 
place or places, the improvement in Pipe- 
Wrenches, for which Letters Patent of the 

United States, No. were granted to 

me , 19 , and to sell the same 

throughout the United States to the full end 
of the term for which said Letters Patent are 
granted. 

Signed and delivered at New York, in the 
County of New York, and State of New York, 

this day of 19 

JOHN SMITH. 

To United States Radiator Company, 
New York, N. Y. 

ASSIGNMENT OF AN 
UNDIVIDED INTEREST. 

WHEREAS, I, John Smith, of Pine Brook, 
County of Ocean, State of New Jersey, did 
obtain Letters Patent of the United States for 
improvements in Automatic Telephones, 

which Letters Patent are numbered , 

and bear the date of 19 ; and 

whereas James Brown, of Philadelphia, County 
of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, is 
desirous of acquiring an interest in the same: 

NOW, THEREFORE, this indenture wit- 
nesseth, that for and in consideration of the 
sum of two thousand dollars to me in hand 
paid, the receipt of which I acknowledge, I 
do hereby sell, assign, and transfer unto the 
said James Brown, one undivided one-half of 
all the right, title, and interest in and to the 
said invention and in and to the Letters Pat- 
ent therefor aforesaid; the same to be held 
and enjoyed by the said James Brown, his 
heirs, assigns or legal representatives as fully 
and entirely as the same would have been held 
and enjoyed by me if this assignment and sale 
had not been made. 

38 



And I do hereby declare that I have not 
conveyed to any other party the rights and in- 
terests herein transferred to the said James 
Brown. 

Witness my hand and seal this 

day of , A. D., 19 

JOHN SMITH. 
In presence of 

Frank Greene, 
William Smock. 

GRANT OF A 

TERRITORIAL INTEREST. 

WHEREAS, I, John Smith, of Keyport, 
County of Monmouth, State of New Jersey, 
did obtain Letters Patent of the United States 
for improvements in Beet Harvesters, which 

Letters Patent are numbered , and 

bear date the day of 

19 , and whereas, I am now the sole 

owner of said patent, and of all rights under 
the same, in the below recited territory; and 
whereas James Smock, of Newark, County of 
Essex, State of New Jersey, is desirous of ac- 
quiring an interest in the same; 

NOW THEREFORE, to all whom it may 
concern, be it known, that for and in consid- 
eration of the sum of one thousand dollars 
to me in hand paid, the receipt of which is 
hereby acknowledged, I, the said John Smith, 
have sold, assigned, transferred, and by these 
presents do sell, assign and transfer unto the 
said James Smock, all the right, title, and in- 
terest in and to the said invention, as secured 
to me by said Letters Patent, for, to, and in 
the States of Delaware and Maryland, and for, 
to, or in no other place or places, the same to 
be held and enjoyed by the said James Smock, 
within and throughout the above-specified 
territory, but not elsewhere, for his own use 
and behoof, and for the use and behoof of his 

39 



legal representatives, to the full end of the 
term for which said Letters Patent are or may 
be granted, as fully and entirely as the same 
would have been held and enjoyed by me had 
this assignment and sale not been made. 

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have 
hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 
tenth day of May, A. D. 1911, in the presence 
of the subscribing witnesses. 

JOHN SMITH. 
In presence of 

John Doe, 
Ralph Ennis. 

ABSTRACT OF DECISIONS. 

The following abstract of decisions will be 
found useful to the inventor, as they enun- 
ciate well-settled and controlling principles of 
Patent Law. 

STATE LICENSE. 

The Constitution of the United States pro- 
vides for the protection of inventors. The 
laws enacted by States to prevent the free ex- 
ercise of the privileges conveyed by a patent 
are unconstitutional, and hence null and void. 
(See ex-parte J. Robinson, U. S. Circuit Court, 
District of Indiana, May 30, 1870, and Helm 
V. First National Bank of Huntington, Cir- 
cuit Court of Indiana.) 

In cases where the article manufactured 
aflFects the interest of a State directly, a license 
is necessary, as the manufacture of whiskey 
under a patent process. 

PATENTEES ENTITLED TO ALL 
USES OF THEIR INVENTIONS. 

A patentee who is the first to make an in- 
vention is entitled to his claim for all the 
uses and advantages which belong to it, and 
it is immaterial whether he perceived and 

40 



stated such advantages in his patent. (S. C. 
of the U. S., Stow V. the City of Chicago. 
Decided January 9, 1882.) 

ASSIGNMENTS. 

Assignments of patents are not required to 
be under seal. The statutes simply provide 
that ''every patent, or any interest therein, 
shall be assignable in law by an instrument in 
writing/' (Gottfried v. Miller, U. S. S. C. 
Decided January 23, 1882.) 

A contract assigning a patent and all future 
improvements thereon is enforceable against 
assignees of such improvements who take no- 
tice of the contract. (Westinghouse Air 
Brake Co. v. Chicago Brake and Mfg. Co., 85 
F. R., 786.) 

Each co-owner of a patent may use his 
right without the concurrence of the others 
and license at will. (Washburn & Moon Co. 
V. Chicago Wire Fence Co., 109 111., 71.) 

Joint owners of a patent right are not co- 
partners, and in the absence of an express 
contract each is at liberty to use! his moiety 
as he may think fit, without any liability to 
or accounting to the other for profits or losses. 
(Vose V. Singer, 4 Allen (Mass.), 226, vide 
Pitt V. Hall, 3 Blatch., 201.) 

Although an assignment of a patent is not 
recorded within three months, it is binding 
on the assignor, and he cannot sell the patent 
again. (Ex. parte Waters, Com. Dec, 1899, 
p. 42.) 

Any assignment which does not convey to 
the assignee the entire and unqualified mono- 
poly which the patentee holds in the territory 
specified, or an undivided interest in the entire 
monopoly, is a mere license. (Sanford v. 
Messer, 2 O. G., 470.) 

A verbal license or interest in an invention 
has no eflFect as against a subsequent assignee 

41 



without notice of such verbal license or in- 
terest. (U. S. S. C, Gates Iron Works v. 
Fraser et al., 1894, C, D., 304.) 

TERRITORIAL 
GRANTS. 

A territorial grantee cannot be restrained 
from advertising and selling within his ter- 
ritory, even though the purchasers may take 
the patented article outside the vendor's ter- 
ritory. (Hatch V. Hall, 22 Fed. Rep., 438.) 

One who buys patented articles of manu- 
facture from an assignee for a specific terri- 
tory becomes possessed of an absolute prop- 
erty in such articles, unrestricted in time or 
place. (U. S. S. C, Keller et al. v. Standard 
Folding Bed Co., 71 O. G., 451.) 

The sale of a patented machine by one au- 
thorized to sell conveys the whole owner- 
ship to the purchaser, who may sell it again 
to another. (Morgan Envelope Co. v. Albany 
Perforated Wrapping Paper Co., 152 U. S., 
425.) 

PATENT TITLE. 

A patent right cannot be seized and sold on 
execution. (Carver v. Peck, 131 Mass., 291.) 

A patent right, like any other personal 
property, is understood by Congress to vest 
in the executors and administrators of the 
patentee, if he dies without having assigned it. 
(Shaw Relief Valve Co. v. City of New Bed- 
ford, 19th Fed. Rep., 758.) 

A court of equity may direct a sale of an 
inventor's interest in his patent to satisfy a 
judgment against him, and will require the 
patentee to assign as provided in Rev. Stat., 
Sec. 4898, and if he refuses, will appoint a 
trustee to make the assignment. (Murray v. 
Ager, 20 O. G., 1311.) 

A patentee who assigns his patent cannot, 

42 



when sued for infringement, contest the valid- 
ity thereof. (Griffith v. Shaw, 89 Fed. Rep., 
313.) 

LICENSES. 

A shop right is a personal license and is not 
assignable. (Gibbs v. Hoefner, 19 Fed. Rep., 
323 ; 22 Blatch., 36.) 

A license is not transferable unless its terms 
so state. (Olmer v. Rumford Chemical Co., 
109 U. S., 75.) 

A license is not forfeitable for non-payment 
of royalties in the absence of express provi- 
sions to that effect. (Wagner Typewriter 
Co. V. Watkins, 84 Fed. Rep., 57; 1898.) 

A license to a person to use an invention 
only "At his own establishment" does not au- 
thorize a use at an establishment owned by 
him and others. (Rubber Co. v. Goodyear, 9 
Wallace, 788.) 

A license merely to make and not to sell 
does not impair the patent owner's right to 
sue for infringement outside of the license; 
and the purchaser of the licensee's tools and 
materials would not carry the right to sell the 
product made thereon. (American Grapho- 
phone Co. v. Walcut, 87 Fed. Rep., 556; 1898.) 

A license to use a machine carries with it 
the right to repair the machine, and replace 
worn parts until the essential original parts 
of the machine have disappeared. (Robinson 
on Patents, Sec. 927.) 

A lawful sale of a patented article by a 
patentee or grantee, within his own territory, 
carries with it the right to use such article 
throughout the whole United States. (Adams 
V. Burke, 5 O. G., 118; Hobbie v. Smith, 27 
Fed. Rep., 656.) 

When an applicant in certain instruments 
assigned his right, title and interest in an in- 
vention, retaining for himself the exclusive 

43 



right to employ the invention in the manufac- 
ture of a certain class of machines, held that 
such instruments do not convey the entire in- 
terest in the invention or any undivided part 
thereof, and they are construed to be nothing 
more than licenses. Ex-parte Rosback, 89 O. 
G., 705. Decided Oct. 5, 1899.) 

A breach of a covenant in a license does not 
work a forfeiture of the license unless it is 
so expressly agreed. (Consol. Middlings 
Purifier Co. v. Wolf, 37 O. G., 567.) 

PART III. 
CANADIAN PATENTS. 

The Canadian Patent covers and affords 
full protection in the following provinces: 
British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, 
Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Prince Ed- 
ward Island. The commercial and manufac- 
turing interests of Canada are extensive, in- 
creasing yearly, and are closely knit with those 
of the United States. If an invention is not 
protected in Canada it is sometimes manu- 
factured there and sent here without paying 
any compensation to the inventor. 

The intimate commercial relations existing 
between the United States and Canada and 
the geographical nearness make it, in one 
sense, a part of the industrial market of 
America; and it is to the advantage of the 
inventor to protect his interests in that coun- 
try. The Patent Laws are liberal and are 
based closely upon those of this country. 

Copies of the ''Rules and Forms of the 
Canadian Patent Office'* and ''The Patent 
Act" can be obtained upon application to the 
Hon. Commissioner of Patents, Ottawa, 
Canada. 

Section 8 of the Patent Act, revised May, 
1898, provides: "Any inventor who elects to 

44 



I 
I 



obtain a patent for his invention in a foreign 
country before obtaining a patent for the same 
invention in Canada may obtain a patent in 
Canada, if the same be applied for within one 
year from the date of the issue of the first 
foreign patent for such invention; and 

"If within three months after the date of 
the issue of a foreign patent, the inventor give 
notice to the Commissioner of his intention 
to apply for a patent in Canada for such in- 
vention, then no other person having com- 
menced to manufacture the same device in 
Canada during such period of one year shall 
be entitled to continue the manufacture of 
same after the inventor has obtained a patent 
therefor in Canada, without the consent and 
allowance of the inventor; and 

"Under any circumstances, if a foreign pat- 
ent exists, the Canadian patent shall expire 
at the earliest date at which any foreign pat- 
ent for the same invention expires." 

Under the section just cited the inventor 
has three months, after the issue of his patent, 
within which to protect his invention in Can- 
ada. If within these three months he has not 
demonstrated the commercial value of his 
home patent, and the advisability of taking 
out a Canadian patent, he is advised to give 
notice to the Commissioner of Patents, Ot- 
tawa, Canada, of his intention of doing so, 
which will fully protect his interests for one 
year, as under the above provision; and if the 
inventor fails to give this formal notice, he 
cannot obtain redress from any person who 
has commenced the manufacture of his inven- 
tion in Canada during the year. 

The construction or manufacturing of the 
invention in Canada must be commenced 
within two years from the date of the patent, 
and continuously carried on from that time. 

In selling Canadian patents, the inventor 

45 



cannot expect more than one-third of what 
he receives or expects from the United States 
patent. The method of selling Canadian pat- 
ents should be carried out on the same lines 
as for a United States patent. 

If the inventor has a meritorious invention 
which is being manufactured or sold profit- 
ably in the United States, he should not have 
any trouble rn disposing of his Canadian pat- 
ent at a satisfactory price. 

The sale of the Canadian patent should not 
be undertaken until the article is first put 
upon the market in the United States or the 
patent for this country disposed of, as it will 
be found more difficult to interest Canadian 
capital until this is done. If the commercial 
value of the United States invention is proven, 
the more valuable will be the Canadian patent. 

PART IV. 
OPPORTUNITY. 

Most inventors invent because they cannot 
help it. Their minds are so constituted that 
new ideas are constantly presenting them- 
selves, and they always see chances for im- 
provement in one line or another. If you are 
naturally adapted to create new things read- 
ily, try and produce something of merit, and 
after having once done so, you will have little 
difficulty in interesting capital for your sub- 
sequent inventions. Do not become discour- 
aged if your first invention did not succeed, 
or bring as high a price as you anticipated. 
A real inventor never tires, and to those the 
following articles will give food for future 
study. 

INVENTIONS WANTED. 

(From N. Y. Times.) 

The dreams of yesterday are the realiza- 

46 



tions of to-day. We live in an age of mechani- 
cal, electrical, chemical and physical wonder; 
on every hand the human mind is reaching 
out to solve the problems of earth and sky — 
the problems of nature. In those solutions 
are hidden the mysteries and the revelations 
of all things. While the dreamer may dream, 
it is the practical man of affairs, with a touch 
of the imaginative in his nature, who mate- 
rializes and commercializes new forces and 
new conceptions. Step by step these men 
lead in the vanguard of progress. What is 
their conception of the needs of the world? 
Toward what is their imagination reaching? 
What, in their viewpoint, is the world waiting 
for — what are the immediate needs of the 
world in practical, scientific conception and 
invention? 

Here are their answers, based upon accu- 
rate knowledge and the skillful artisanship of 
practical work and conceptive thought. What 
they reveal is a prophetic look into the future 
and weighty with significance. 

By EDWARD BRUCE MOORE, 
Commissioner of Patents. 

In recent years the world has been greatly 
interested' in aerial navigation, and there has 
been a rapid development of this art. The 
dirigible balloons of Santos Dumont, and 
that of Capt. Baldwin, recently tested with 
great success at Fort Myer, Va., show that it 
is possible under favorable circumstances, to 
direct the course of a balloon at will, but this 
type of airship seems to be, to a great extent, 
at the mercy of the air currents. Further im- 
provements must be looked for in the "heav- 
ier-than-air" machines, of which the aeroplane 
of the Wright brothers, successfully tested at 
Fort Myer and in France, is the best example. 
The fatal accident which occurred to this ma- 

47 



chine shows the great need of some form of 
automatic balancing device, which will adjust 
itself to variations in air currents, and will 
control the machine under all circumstances 
with the co-operation of the operator. 

The world would welcome a telephone sys- 
tem which would operate successfully beneath 
the sea, connecting the opposite shores of the 
great oceans. 

The scratching sound produced by the 
graphophone might be obviated by an inven- 
tion which would operate without the contact 
of the stylus with the record. 

The gigantic harvests of wheat and corn 
produced in this country have been success- 
fully handled by the multiplicity of farming 
implements now in use, but the great cotton 
fields of the South are still awaiting a cotton 
harvester capable of being simply driven 
through the cotton field and harvesting the 
cotton without waste. Numerous inventors 
claim to have produced such a machine, but 
none as yet has come into general use. 

Washington in common with other cities 
has an order prohibiting the production of 
smoke by boiler furnaces, and while there are 
many patents having this object in view, the 
results, judging from the number of prosecu- 
tions followed by assessment of fines, indicate 
that the Capital of the United States and the 
remainder of the world are awaiting for a 
smoke preventer. 

The breaking of lamp chimneys, incident to 
the strain of unequal heating, offers a field for 
the invention of a glass capable of stretching 
without breaking.. Many have sought, as yet 
in vain, to produce a flexible glass able to stand 
the same rough usage as sheet metal. The 
art of making the malleable glass, as known 
to the ancient Egyptians, has never been re- 
vived. 

48 



The rapid exhaustion of our timber, espe- 
cially such as is consumed in the manufacture 
of wood pulp for paper, makes desirable a 
cheap and suitable substitute. 

A flameless gun, to follow the soundless 
one recently invented by Mr. Maxim, would 
render impossible the detection of an enemy. 
Such a weapon would have a great effect on 
future tactics. 

Safety devices for preventing accidents in 
mines, on shipboard and on railways seems 
to be much needed. Stronger rail fastenings, 
rail joints, and a substitute for wooden ties 
must be found if our railways are to handle 
the constantly increasing weights imposed 
upon them by the expanding traffic of the 
country. 

So rapidly have our coal fields been worked 
that in a few years it will be found necessary 
to find some other source of heat. In order 
to utilize the heat of the sun, now going to 
waste, attempts have been made to concen- 
trate the rays, by the aid of great systems of 
mirrors, upon a steam boiler, which would 
supply steam to an engine. This has been 
accomplished upon a small scale. 

Substitutes for india rubber and leather 
would find an important place in the arts. 

A method of producing electric energy di- 
rectly from the combustion of fuel has en- 
gaged the attention of many inventors, among 
them Mr. Edison, who, however, has not 
brought the invention to the point of com- 
mercial success. 

One of the great items of expense in run- 
ning an automobile is the rapid wear of and 
constant injury to the pneumatic tires. Many 
attempts have been made to produce a satis- 
factory spring or cushion tire which will out- 
wear and possess all the resiliency and other 
qualities of the pneumatic tire. A storage 

49 



battery that will render a miachine capable of 
a run of 100 miles is still anxiously sought. 

The recent forest fires, which have done in- 
calculable damage and destroyed many lives, 
cause us to hope for some practical method 
of precipitating rain. The primitive method 
of back-firing seems to be the only weapon 
now employed to fight this faithful friend of 
man when it assumes the guise of an enemy. 

The domestic labor problem, always with 
us, offers untold opportunity for the profitable 
development of anything that will diminish 
the labor or the vexation of the housekeeper. 
Nothing would be more welcome in any house- 
hold than china that servants could not break. 
Another boon, not yet discovered, is a non- 
corrosive composition for drainage pipes.— 
N. Y. Times. 

NINE NEW INVENTIONS CERTAIN, 
By Thomas A. Edison. 

The next era will mark the most wonderful 
advance in science and invention that the 
world has ever known or hoped for. So vast 
will that advance be that we can now have 
scarcely any conception of its scope, but al- 
ready a great many inventions of the future 
are assured. It is only of those which I re- 
garded as practical certainties that I speak. 

First. Within the next twenty or thirty 
years — and it will start within the next two 
or three — concrete architecture will take enor- 
mous strides forward; the art of moulding 
concrete will be reduced to a science of per- 
fection, and, what is equally important, of 
cheapness; there will rise up a large number 
of gifted architects, and through their efforts 
cities and towns will spring up in this country 
beside which Turner's picture of ancient Rome 
and Carthage will pale into nothingness, and 
the buildings of the Columbian Exposition 

50 



will appear common. But great expense will 
not attend this ; it will be done so that the poor 
will be able to enjoy houses more beautiful 
than the rich now aspire to, and the man 
earning $1.50 a day, with a family to support, 
will be better housed than the man of to-day 
who is earning $10. 

Second. Moving-picture machines will be 
so perfected that the characters will not only 
move, but will speak, and all the accessories 
and effects of the stage will be faithfully re- 
produced on the living-picture stage. This, 
of course, will not be done as well as on the 
regular stage, but its standard will approach 
very near to that, and the fact that such en- 
tertainment will be furnished for five cents 
will draw vast numbers of the working class- 
es. The result will be that the masses will 
have the advantage of the moral good drama; 
they will find an inexpensive and improving 
way of spending the evening, and the death 
knell of the saloon will be sounded. 

Third. In perhaps fifteen or twenty years, 
depending on the financial condition of the 
country, the locomotive will pass almost alto- 
gether out of use, and all our main trunk rail- 
ways will be operated by electricity. 

Fourth. A new fertilizer will spring into 
existence, containing a large percentage of 
nitrogen. This will be drawn from the air 
by electricity, and will be used to increase the 
arability of the land. Even now this is done 
largely in Sweden. 

Fifth. All our water power will be utilized 
by electricity to an extent now almost un- 
thought of, and will be used with great ad- 
vantage, both industrially and for railroads. 

Sixth. A successful aerial navigation will 
be established — perhaps for mails — and will 
achieve a sound, practical working basis. 

Seventh. We shall be able to protect our- 
51 



selves against environment by the use of 
serums and things of that sort so that the 
general state of health will improve and the 
average span of life will increase by a large 
percentage. The grand fight which is being 
made against tuberculosis and cancer will 
reach a successful culmination, and those dis- 
eases will be entirely mastered. 

Eighth. A new force in nature, of some 
sort or other, will be discovered by which 
many things not now understood will be ex- 
plained. We unfortunately have now only 
five senses; if we had eight we'd know more. 

Ninth. We will realize the possibilities of 
our coal supplies better, and will learn how 
to utilize them so that 90 per cent, of the ef- 
ficiency will not be thrown away, as it is 
to-day. 

Finally, let it be said, hardly any piece of 
machinery now manufactured is more than 
ten per cent, perfect. As the years go on this 
will be improved upon tremendously; more 
automatic machinery will be devised, and ar- 
ticles of comfort and luxury will be produced 
in enormous numbers at such small cost that 
all classes will be able to enjoy the benefits 
of them. 

These are some of the inventions which the 
world is awaiting which it is sure of seeing 
realized. Just how they will be realized is 
what the inventors are working now to de- 
termine. — N. Y. Times. 

MINING MACHINERY NEEDED. 
By Cortland E. Palmer, 
Mining Expert 

The prevailing scarcity of both common 
and skilled labor in the precious-metal mining 
districts of this country and of Mexico fur- 
nishes a wide field of oportunity for inventors 

52 



and for those whose originality of method is 
paramount to invention in mining and ore- 
milling operations. 

The labor situation, which has long been 
the vexing problem in the economics of our 
mining districts, has become, contrary to com- 
mon impression, quite as serious in the more 
important camps of Mexico, and in both coun- 
tries superintendents and foremen have long 
since ceased to examine into a workingman's 
fitness with the old time care before engaging 
him. The usual complement of limbs and 
muscles suffices for the obtaining of employ- 
ment, regardless of race, experience or per- 
sonal record of the applicant. The result of 
the conditions outlined has been inevitable. A 
rising scale of wages has gone hand in hand 
with a falling off in output per unit of labor 
cost. 

And in casting about for an explanation one 
is forced to the conclusion that the develop- 
ment of a mechanical age is largely responsible 
for the disappearance of the man who made 
his livelihood by his muscle or manual skill. 

It would seem good judgment to swim with 
so strong a current rather than against it, 
and endeavor to perfect the substitution of 
automatic mechanical methods for the man- 
ual labor which is becoming more and more 
inadequate as to supply and less efficient, year 
by year. 

For the meeting of the conditions outlined 
the same policy of development is indicated 
in mining operations which is serving with 
cumulative efficiency for the rescue of other 
industries from the bane of insufficient, in- 
efficient labor. We must do more things me- 
chanically which we now do by hand, and we 
must do' better those many things which are 
already done mechanically. 

As between the entirely new device* rc- 
53 



quired and the improvements of existing de- 
vices it would seem that the greater number 
of opportunities for inventive genius lies along 
the line of improvements — for the reason that 
so large a proportion of operations is already 
performed mechanically in a more or less im- 
perfect way. '•'•-: 

As examples of recent important improve- 
ments in mine equipment, mechanical drill 
sharpeners and hammer drills stand out prom- 
inently as making for economy in direct costs 
and labor requirements. But none of these 
devices are perfected, and the inventor who 
brings either device a step nearer to what it 
should be will have his reward. 

Timber framing by machinery has been 
practiced for many years, but a practical, sim- 
ple machine which will render possible as 
perfect a joint as can be had by hand work 
is still to be produced. 

An explosive aifording practically innocu- 
ous products of combustion would go far to- 
ward reducing mining risks and operating 
costs. 

There is need for the development of timber 
preservation plants and methods for use in 
mine operation, and for conclusive investiga- 
tion of the practicability of substituting steel 
or other materials for timber in order to elim- 
inate the constant tax for repairs in workings 
which must be kept open indefinitely. 

In milling practice there is room for im- 
provement in the mechanical disposal of very 
fine tailings, where dump room or water sup- 
ply is limited; perfection is demanded in the 
design of crushing machinery for the produc- 
tion of very fine sizes with a minimum of 
slimes, and the slime concentrator remains an 
imperfect machine after generations of inven- 
tion and the introduction of hundreds of de- 
vices. — N. Y. Times. 

54 



There is on the average one invention an- 
nually to every three hundred inhabitants, 
and each valuable discovery works revolutions 
which break up the crust of society. New 
schemes and unheard-of situations call for 
quick decision and vigilance. The demand 
for better work, better art, more convenience, 
more speed and more production has become 
a fever, and the rewards are great to the man 
who can advance on present methods amd 
present power. 

It has been truthfully said that Opportunity 
knocks once at every man's door. It could be 
said that Opportunity knocks several times at 
the same door ; especially is this so in the case 
of persons who are naturally adapted to create 
new things readily, and no person of inventive 
genius can employ his time and ingenuity to 
better or more profitable advantage than to 
invent something that is really needed. 



55 



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